MONSOONS could batter Britain in future as experts warned that the kind of torrential rain seen in India or China is on the way.

Changing climate is already leading to much wetter weather. And fierce rainfall and widespread flooding could become a regular occurrence in the next decade.

Professor Julia Slingo, chief ­scientist at the Met Office, said: “The trend towards more extreme rainfall events is one we are seeing around the world, in countries such as India and China, and now potentially here in the UK.”

Professor Nigel Arnell, of Reading University, said last year’s weather fitted a pattern which has seen rainfall increase in many parts of the northern hemisphere.

He said: “While rainfall varies naturally from year to year and decade to decade, there is increasing evidence that the build-up of greenhouse gases is starting to affect rainfall across the globe. That means we are likely to see flood frequency increase further.”

New UK figures show that average long-term rainfall increased by about five per cent between the periods 1961-1990 and 1981-2010.

The trend towards more extreme rainfall events is one we are seeing around the world

Professor Julia Slingo, chief ­scientist at the Met Office

In records going back to 1910, four of the top five wettest years were recent – 2000, 2012, 2008 and 2002. The only exception was 1954, which was the third wettest.

“Extreme” rainfall also appears to be more frequent. This is classified as heavy falls which usually happen every 100 days – but last year increased to every 70 days.

The Met Office said changes in sea surface temperatures as a result of natural cycles and a reduction in Arctic sea ice could increase rainfall. Rising global temperatures – up 0.7C in 250 years – could also be contributing, as a warmer atmosphere holds more moisture.

The Institution of Civil Engineers called for a strategy to cope with drought as well as floods.

The institution’s water expert Michael Norton said: “Without a strategy, we will continue to swing from flooding to drought – and climate change will only exacerbate the situation.”